The episode "Sky of Austerlitz", which occupies relatively little space in the novel "War and Peace," is nevertheless one of the central ones, as it shows the most profound changes that have occurred with Prince Andrei on the battlefield. It is important everything that shaped the worldview of the prince, and that debunked his idea of the war and its heroes.
The life of Prince Andrew, which preceded the war
He is a wealthy socialite who is deeply unhappy. To some extent, his image is created by the author as an “extra person”. One of the first references to "extra people" appears in A.S. Pushkin in draft version 8 of the chapter "Eugene Onegin": "... almost does not speak with anyone. One is lost and forgotten, between young aristocrats, between useful diplomats, for all he seems a stranger. "
What is generally understood in Russian literature as an “extra person”? Usually this is a certain socio-psychological type. Its main features can be reconstructed. On the one hand, these are significant abilities, a bright personality, and on the other, alienation from society. On the one hand, a sense of intellectual and moral superiority over his environment, and on the other - a kind of mental fatigue, skepticism, which makes him a black sheep. Extra people often bring misfortune not only to themselves, but also to young women who love them.
This all applies to the image of Prince Andrew, created by the hand of the great master.
Headquarters life
In general, the work at the headquarters of Prince Andrey Kutuzov was satisfying. He was interested. But he stood out from the general mass of officers in that for him everything was important and significant. Especially the general course of the war, and not just the victory of the Russian army. Long before the battle, when he retreated to Olmütz, he understood how small and vile the war was. And he waited, impatiently waiting for his "Toulon". Austerlitz sky was still far away.
Dreams of glory and recognition
In the battle of Toulon against the king’s supporters in the south of France, the young Bonaparte, unknown to anyone, by a sharp intervention of his column brought victory to the Republicans. This was his first victory. Prince Andrei, who served in the headquarters of Kutuzov, does not for a moment let go of the idea of glory. Therefore, "Toulon" is constantly adjacent to his name as the first step to it. Napoleon became an idol for the prince. Before the battle, the hero’s internal dialogue with himself takes place all night, which no one can interrupt.
He does not need a father, nor a sister, nor a wife waiting for a child. On a foggy night before the battle, he clearly realized to what extent all those close to him were indifferent. He did not look at the sky of Austerlitz, delving only into his thoughts. He could not sleep all night before the battle. The prince, revising his life, has not yet fundamentally changed: the love of strangers, people unknown to him, was necessary, like air, although the possible death already worries him.
Napoleon
It was a gray drizzling morning. But, strangely enough, over Napoleon the bright blue sky of Austerlitz shone, as if portending a victory to him. The golden sun was floating above. And when it lit up everything around Napoleon, he signaled an offensive, removing the glove from his beautiful hand.
Battle
Kutuzov immediately assumed that it would be lost. Prince Andrei hoped by his intervention to turn the tide of the battle. And now the opportunity presented itself to show personal heroism, when the mass exodus of soldiers from a position began. He picked up the banner and ran forward, ignoring the bullets flying by. And the soldiers followed him. But, wounded, he falls, and here for the first time he sees the sky of Austerlitz. It is in an extraordinary distance. In the sky, unlike the earth, everything is calm.
There is no noise, no din, no screams, no explosions, no violent movement, no anger, no fights. There, high, there is silence. Clouds are crawling quietly. They are calm and solemn. Prince Andrew is amazed to see the sky of Austerlitz. A passage about heaven shows how the prince’s gaze is changing - yes, all the hype that seduced him. The antithesis is used - there is an opposition of hot battle and peace, silence. There is only heaven. "And thank God!" So the whole tone of the narrative changed. With the help of epithets and repetitions, the rhythm of phrases slows down. And slowly floating clouds show slow but constant changes in the prince’s thoughts.
Transformation
The prince fell into oblivion, bleeding. Only in the evening he woke up, and the first thought was: where is the sky of Austerlitz (“War and Peace”)? The passage shows how Prince Andrei’s thoughts rush from high heaven to suffering that he had previously not known. He again saw the sky with clouds through which the infinity turned blue. Napoleon, staying next to him - his hero and idol - seemed to the prince insignificant, small, petty and conceited, something buzzing like a fly. Prince Andrew rejects him. His soul communicates only with high sky. But he wants to live: life seems both valuable and beautiful, because he understands what is happening differently.
Only after tasting death, only having been in the balance of it, did Prince Andrei with his whole being feel, looking into the boundless sky, the pettiness of his ambitious aspirations. He realized his feat, but realized that the main thing was completely different. The sky, which is a mystery, and the pacification that can only be found at home, in the Bald Mountains.
And war is horror, dirt and pain. There is no romance in it. So, looking into the sky, Prince Andrey completely revises his life position.